Current-motor.



No. 890,676. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1908.

R. L. MARTIN.

CURRENT MOTOR. APPLICATION FILED OGT.14, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

rns NORRIS PETERS co, wasmnaron. n. c.

PATENTED JUNE 16, 1908.

R'. L. MARTIN. CURRENT MOTOR. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 14, 1005.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

114E NORRIS PETERS ca., w4sramarau,-n. c,

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT LAFAYETTE MARTIN, OF OCALA, FLORIDA.

CURRENT-MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 16, 1908.

Application filed October 14, 1905. Serial No. 282,831.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT LAFAYETTE MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ocala, in the county of Marion and State of Florida, have invented new and useful Improvements in Current-Motors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to what I shall for convenience term a current motor.

One of the principal objects of the inven tion is to so mount the motor that it can move bodily transversely of a running stream of water, by reason of which I can move the motor into and out of the path of the current. The parts are so organized that when the motor is operating at its maximum capacity it will be located in the stream and in the present case between the banks of such stream, whether the latter be a river or other moving body of water. Should the motor when in its operative relation be in the line of motion of a boat or vessel of more than ordinary beam, the motor by virtue of the mounting thereof can be moved backward or toward the bank, so as to leave aspace sufiicient for the passage of such boat between the motor and the opposite bank. The motor itself may be of any desirable kind.

In the form of the embodiment of the invention which I have selected for illustration to show the utility of such invention, a water wheel of ordinary type is represented. It will be obvious that motors of a radically different character than a water wheel can be used in place of the latter. The motor is situated at or uponone bank of a river for movement toward the opposite bank, as will be understood from what I have hereinbefore stated. In the present instance I mount at or upon said other bank a gate or sluice which, when in its operative position, has its outer end or edge contiguous to the motor so that the maximum pressure of the moving current will be directed against the motor. When it becomes necessary for a row-boat or craft of a similar character to pass by the motor this can be accomplished by drawing the gate or sluice backward towards its bank, the parts being so proportioned in practice that when the gate is in its extreme backward position, and when the motor is in its extreme forward position there will be space between the gate and motor for the passage of small craft.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a motor involving my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional detail view hereinafter more particularly described. Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fi 2, but illustrating a modification. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the parts represented in Fig. 4 upon the line 55 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 6 is a modification herein more particularly described.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring more especially to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the form of embodiment of the invention therein represented involves a motor, the same being designated in a general way by 2, and being of wheel form. The water wheel 2 may be of any of the convenient types operated by the current of a stream. This water wheel is mounted upon a carrier, which may be as shown in these figures, a horizontally traveling carriage denoted in a general way by 3, or it may be as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a float 3. The carrier 3, whether it be a carriage float or other device, is so mounted that it can be moved transversely of a stream of water in order to project the motor or wheel 2 across said stream. I have shown as supported by the two banks of the river, represented diagrammatically in Fig. 1, abutments, as 4 and 5. These abutments may be of cement or other material, and in some cases they may be dispensed with. For example, where the material of the banks will permit of the proper mounting of the parts, I need not use thecement abutments. Both abutments are shown as extending into the water, and the one on the left in Fig. 1, serves to sustain the parallel rails, as 6, for 'the traveling carriage 3. The track composed in the present instance of the parallel rails 6 is made sufficiently long that when the motor 2 is in its extreme advanced or for ward position it will occupy a place between the two banks of the river, and when in its extreme backward position its outer side will be flush or substantially flush with its outer projecting portion of the abutment 4. To facilitate the motion of the carriage 3, it is provided with wheels to roll upon the rails 6.

In Fig. 1 the carriage 3, and necessarily the motor 2, are shown as occupying their extreme forward positions, the same applying to a gate or sluice, as 7, guided for longitudinal movement by the abutment 5. I will hereinafter describe more in detail the mode of operation of thesluice or gate.

When said sluice or gate 7 is in. its advanced or operative position, as shown in Fig. 1, it will dam the water between the motor 2 and the abutment 5 to such an extent, as to cause the full force of the current to act upon the blades of the motor, whereby the maximum efficiency can be obtained from the motor. By drawing the gate 7 backward until its forward edge is practically in the plane of the outer portion of the abutment 5 there will be presented between the gate or sluice and the motor a space through which small boats can pass. WVhen it becomes necessary for boats of large beam to pass the motor, the gate and the motor itself can both be drawn back, leaving a .wide space for such purpose. In some cases it may not be necessary to draw the motor all the way back. The amount of movement of the motor and its carrier will depend upon the width of the stream, or the beam of the particular boat. The abutment 4 has a well or cavity, as 8, (shown best in Fig.2) to accommodate the motor 2 when the latter is in its retracted or inoperative position. In some cases the motor may be only partially received by the well or chamber 8.

The carriage 3 consists of a suitable frame made up in the present instance of side bars or beams joined at intervals by struts or braces. Several of the cross bars of the carriage have bearings for rotatively supporting the shaft 9 of the motor or water wheel 2. Pendent from and movable with the carriage 3 are complementary aprons 10 between which the wheel or motor 2 turns. These aprons 10 prevent lateral motion of the moving body of water so that the full effect of the water currents will be directed against the blades.

' Supported by the carriage 3 is a shaft 11, which is connected by a train of gearing denoted in a general way by 12 with the main or wheel shaft 9. One gear of the train is fastened to the shaft 1 1, while the other gear is loose upon the shaft 9. Upon the latter is splined a clutch 13. WVhen the loose gear of the train 12 is clutched or coupled to said shaft 9 by the clutch 18, the shaft 11 will, through the intervention of the meshing gears, be rotated. By moving the clutch 13 out of engagement with the con'iplementary gear the movement of the shaft 11 will be stopped. Upon the shaft 11 is a driving member which may be a pulley 14, and from which power can be taken to operate any suitable machine, such as a dynamo.

I provide means, as will hereinafter appear, whereby the carriage 3 can be moved forward and backward by the power of the rotating wheel. or motor 2. I have illus trated in the drawings a simple mechanism, whereby these results can be accomplished, but the same may be brought about in other ways dissimilar to that illustrated as will be evident. I have shown a sleeve at 15 as splined for longitudinal movement upon the main or-wheel shaft 9. This sleeve is shown in detail in Fig. 3. It has at its opposite ends gears, as 16 and 17, adapted to alternately mesh with a gear, as 18, on the cross shaft 19 connected by sprocket gearing denoted in a general way by 20 with a cross shaft, as 21. Both shafts are supported by suitable bearings upon the carriage 3, and the i shaft 21 carries near its opposite ends pinions, .as 22, meshing with the teeth of rack bars, as 23, fastened to the upper side of the abutment 4. These rack bars may be embedded in the cement from which said abutment is made. When the gear 17 is in mesh with the gear 18 the carriage 3 may be driven forward, the opposite result taking place when the gear 16 is in mesh with said gear 18. I have shown a hand-lever 24, as fulcrumed upon the carriage 3 as a convenient manual means for operating. the sleeve 15 to put the gears 16 and 17 alternately into mesh with the gear 18.

In Fig. 1 both gears 16 and 1.7 are represented as being out of mesh with the intermediate gear 18, and the carriage 3 at this time being in its extreme forward position. Should it be desired to run the carriage back all the way or partially, the hand lever 24 will be grasped and operated to carry the gear 16 into mesh with the gear 18, so that as the shaft 9 is in motion the shaft 21 through the intermediate parts can be operated from said shaft 9 to move the carriage 3 backward, the motor or wheel of course moving with the carriage. To move the carriage forward the gear 17 will be put into mesh with the gear 18. Should the carriage and the motor be in their extreme backward positions there will not be water power to move the carriage forward, and in this case I provide auxiliary hand operable mechanism to give an initial movement to the carriage. After the initial movement of the carriage the wheel or motor will have been projected sufficiently into the water to secure its operation thereby, following which the forward movement of the carriage will be wholly automatic. I have represented a hand wheel at 25. This hand wheel is connected by gearing denoted in a general way by 26 with the shaft 19. By turning the hand wheel 25 the carriage can be given its initial forward motion, it being understood that the shaft 19 is connected with the shaft 21.

It is necessary to throw thegears 16 and 17 out of mesh with the cooperating gear 18 when the carriage reaches the opposite ends of its stroke, and I will now describe the means shown for this purpose. To the lever 24 between its handle and fulcrum is shown as pivoted a rod 27 having at its free end an offset cooperative with an actuator or stop, as 28, upon the abutment 4. It will beasmovement of the rod 27 with the carriage,

and necessarily through the lever 24 moving the gear 17 out of mesh with the cooperative gear 18, the operation in question being conv eluded when the carriage is in its extreme forward position. To move the carriage backward, the hand lever 24 will be manipulated to put the gear 16 into mesh with the gear 18, and at about the time the carriage reaches its extreme backward position, the lever 24 itself will strike the stop or actuator 28 to take the gear 16 out of mesh with the gear 18, and necessarily stop the backward motion of the carriage.

The abutment 5 is channeled for the motion of the gate 7 and it has rails, as 29, upon which wheels carried by the gate can travel. To the front and rear ends of the gate are connected a cable, as 30, such cable between its ends being passed around the Windlass, as 31, by the operation of which the gate can be moved either forward 'or backward. The cable 30 extendsalong the bed of the river so as not to be fouled by passing craft. The Windlass 31 is mounted upon the abutment 4, so that the carriage 3 and gate can be operated from the same side of the river. The carriage 3 is equipped with a locking device as 3 which may consist of a screw and the lower end of which can be run down into any of the spaces between the teeth of one of the rackbars 23 to firmly fasten the carriage in either of its extreme positions or in an intermediate position. From a winding drum, as 32, to the up-stream forward corner of the carriage 3, a cable, as 33, is shown as extended, the cable serving to prevent bodily lateral motion of the carriage due to the impact of the water against the blades of the motor.

I have herein before set forth that the carrier for the motor 2 may be of any desirable kind, and referred briefly to the fact that a float as 3 could be employed as such a carrier. In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown this floatand the motor associated therewith. The .only variation between the organization shown in these two figures and the preceding figures is in the means employed for moving the float backward and forward, and of course in the provision of a long channel, as 8, to accommodate the float and the motor, when the latter are in their extreme backward positions.

Extending from a pair of posts 34 on the inner portion of the abutment 4 to a pair of similar posts 35 located on the outer portion of the abutment 4 are a pair of operating cables 36 which are passed one or more times around a pair of drums 37 on the float 3, the

' shaft of the drums being connected by sprocket gearing denoted in a general way by 38 with a transverse shaft, as 19, the equivalent of the shaft 19 hereinbefore described. \Vhen, therefore, the shaft 19 is operated from the power of the motor shaft 9, the float 3 will be moved backward or forward in accordance with the direction the shaft 19 is turned.

The gate 7 may have a lateral flange 7 as shown in Fig. 6 which, when said gate and motor are in their forward positions, abuts or substantially abuts against the motor. This flange extends the complete depth of the gate, projects down stream and serves as a substitute for the forward apron 10 when the latter is omitted. 7

Having described the invention what I claim is:

1. A water motor and its carrier movable transversely of a stream of water, whereby the motor can be moved into the current to operate the same, combined with a gate movable toward the motor for the purpose of increasing the pressure of the current and movable away from the motor for the purpose of permitting the passage of craft between the motor and gate.

- 2. A water motor and its carrier movable transversely of a stream of water from one bank thereof combined with an abutment on said bank on which said carrier is mounted, an abutment on the opposite bank of said stream, and a gate mounted on said second abutment and movable toward and from the motor.

3. A water motor mounted to move bodily into a stream of water and from said. stream from one bank of the latter, a gate to move toward and from the motor from the opposite bank of said stream, and an operating member mounted upon the first mentioned bank and operatively connected with the gate to move the latter back and forth.

4. A water motor and its carrier, the carrier being mounted to cause the motor to enter a stream of water or leave the same from one bank of said stream, a gate to move toward and from the motor from the opposite bank of said stream, an operating member for said gate, mounted upon the firstmentioned bank, and mechanism operated from the motor for positively moving said carrier.

5. A water motor and its carrier, the latter being mounted to cause the motor to move into and away from the path of the current of a stream of water transversely of said path, mechanism operable by the motor for bodily moving the carrier, and means for stopping the motion of the carrier when the latter has made a predetermined movement.

6. A water motor and its carrier, the latter being mounted to cause the motor to move into and away from the path of the current of a stream of water transversely of said path,

mechanism operable by the motor for bodily moving the carrier, means for sto ping the machine of the carrier when the atter has made a predetermined movement, and a gate movable toward and from the motor across said stream.

7. A water motor and its carrier movable transversely of a stream of water from one bank thereof, said carrier having aprons depending from opposite sides thereof combined with an abutment on said bank and on which said carrier is mounted, supports on the opposite bank of said stream, and a gate mounted on said supports and movable across said stream toward and from said.

motor.

8. A motor and its carrier, the carrier being movable transversely of a stream of water from one bank thereof combined with an abutment on said bank on which said carrier is mounted, supports on the opposite bank of said stream, a gate movable toward and from the motor and mounted on said supports, mechanism operable by the motor for bodily moving the carrier, and hand operable means for giving the carrier an initial forward movement toward said gate.

9. A water motor and its carrier movable horizontally transversely of a stream of water from one bank thereof, combined with an abutment on said bank and upon which said. carrier is mounted, an abutment on the opposite bank of said stream, and a gate mounted on said second abutment and movable horizontally toward the motor for the purpose of increasing the pressure of the current of the stream against the motor and movable horizontally away from said motor for the purpose of permitting the passage of craft between the motor and the gate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT LAFAYETTE ill AR'IIN.

l/Vitnesses:

HEATH SUTHERLAND, BERNARD P. VASHON. 

